Enmities off-shake For of such jarring Parts it was contriv'd And of such contrarieties did partake That it by Discord and Confusion liv'd A life such as it was with Death to be surviv'd XLVII So strove they thus would they have striven ever Till pittying their debate the Spirit of Love Calm'd the discordant Mole and did dissever Th' Eternal Combatants plac'd some above Others did to the deep Abysse remove Fast to be held in Adamantine Chain Whilst those few Parts that did more ductile prove Into Four Principles which all contain Themselves in all contain'd were solely left to reign XLVIII FIRE which as lightest took the highest place And upward rais'd its towring Head then AIR That followâ—d it but with unequal pace And tho it vy'd to be and look as fair Forc'd in the midst to hang self-ballanc'd there Next WATER which the Surface cover'd o're That pregnant Mother of the EARTH less rare In its vast Womb conceiv'd but which before It could emerge lackt mighty Love to force the Door XLIX And so it did but LIGHT was first to shine And an whole Day for that which makes the Day But little enough was thought i th' Mind Divine Through Darkness palpable to clear its way And all its various Beauties to display Darkness which tho but counted Privative Such claims to th heap whence 't was call'd out did lay That Love like equal shares to both did give Alternately each Day in Day and Night to live L. But harder were the teeming Waters Throes When on the second Day Earth nearer came To its great Birth like weight that heavier grows Long born and to break through disjoynts the frame The Waters pangs compar'd thus were the same When they divided burst but ne're to close Stopt by the solid FIRMAMENT whose Name Immoveable Partition does suppose By ' whose Shoar disjoyn'd upper and nether Ocean flows LI. And now the third Day of her Monstrous Child Half way deliver'd the Great Mother was Monstrous unsightly yet with Horrour fill'd Which in its Oasy Arms it did embrace And half supprest to the' Birth would ne're let pass But with it joyn'd one Monstrous Body made Above DRY GROUND below a confus'd Mass Part Earth with Briny Hatchments overlaid Part unmixt Water upon empty Nothing staid LII And called SEA as what appear'd was LAND Rough bare mishape't tho dry unbeautifi'd It self unbeautiful vast plains of Sand More horribly deform'd with terrors Pride Mountains that to ' Heav'n aspir'd and gaping wide With rais'd up Jaws threatned to swallow down In gorge unsatiate glories there envy'd And wrinkled Forehead which scarce made did frown And Omens give of Future War from cause unknown LIII Nor could there cause be gi'ven for a new Face From the' Love Divine it took and Nakedness Was cloath'd upon with all the Charming Grace Of Fruit and Flower and the grim Gyantess Its own Eternal Goodness to express Kind Heav'n illumin'd with a double Light The fourth Day made the greater and the less By Day the SUN with vital heat and bright To warm the MOON with starry Robe to ' invest at night LIV. Nor was this all but at the fifth Days dawn Earth and her Mother Sea replenished With new Inhab'itants were and every Laune And every Hill scar'd Solitude thence fled Legions of FOWL produc'd and kindly bred Which on large Wings above the Ground did fly But perching on some Tree made that their Bed Whilst Lakes and Streams and the huge Sea fast by With mighty WHALES were fill'd and with the lesser FRY LV. Fill'd were the Floods with these but still the Earth As whose Wing'd-People most partook of th' Air Their haunt impregnate with a second Birth For which disclos'd 't had room enough to spare Did on the sixth Day to disclose prepare And out all BEASTS and REPTILS in their kind Sprang from the fertile Womb proportion'd fair Each to its Nature but with Look declin'd To th' Earth whence tane to th' Earth whereto confin'd LVI Of these and other Works of God they sang In Lays harmonious as Love utterance gave Yet these and others which they lowdly rang Were but as Praeludes which with Mast'ry brave Their Voice shew'd and what compass Verse might have Verse which then triumpht in Recitative When they all other Grounds resolv'd to wave Sang of themselves and Him who at once did give One power to Sing thus to Him and like Him to live LVII A wondrous Work it was from Nothing thus All things in weight and measure up to raise And perfect Order form'd most beauteous Subordinate as different were the Ways Whereby their Maker would direct his Praise But none so Wondrous did and strange appear Of Power and Beauty with so rich displays As Mans Formation made the Rule to bear And sublim'd Earth equal to highest Heaven rear LVIII That Dust could Live in what was done before Was plainly told but that it too could love As Love all life in it contains and more All that or Reason knows or can improve Th' Eternal Treasures only were enough To drein and to be drein'd For God but spake And all below and all the Hosts above Being and Life from the great Word did take But Hands Divine Man's model were employ'd to make LIX By Hands Divine his Body first was wrought The full Abridgment of this World to be With curious Art to ' its last perfection brought But infinitely base in its degree To th' Soul the Pourtraict of the Deity Into his Nostrils breath'd that in his Brain Might be infixt the Heav'nly Ima'gry And Life with Vital Blood in every Vein To th' Parts extream convey'd the Character retain LX. Love was that Character in Holiness And perfect Purity exemplifi'd And Innocence which that first state did bless And Reason with them Empire to divide And o're th' Inferiour Appetite preside Which it restrain'd and furnisht with true Skill It self in all its Acts to curb and guide At least had power to do so and fulfil The Charge Divine close backt by Freedom of the Will LXI Blest Qualities which made him Lord and King Of all this lower World and Majesty On his Erected Countenance stampt did bring Heav'n down to Earth and Earth that flat did lie Advance'd to be for Angels Company Nay farther and what Angels did admire For its Aetern Exemplar the Most High Who with his Work delighted would retire Frequent from Heav'n as to divert and view it nighe'r LXII Himself hereby Man dexterously did guide And o're himself so absolutely reign The greatest Kingdom in the World beside And which all other Kingdoms did contain In ' it self in Chief or Vassalages Chain That only Peace and only what was Good And only Love was given for Love again With Charms that by no force could be withstood And centred in one Point Indivisible GOD. LXIII Hail happy state of Innocence thrice Hail Hail to Thy Love and Thee And may my Verse From thence inspir'd with generous Souls
they rose with Bays and Ivy Crown'd Not such as Mortal Poets wear below But what i th' Heav'nly Tempâ—e grow And with whose Wreaths the first great Makers Brows are bound IX Go Shepherds go and kiss th' Eternal Son To Bethle'hem go and the first Tributes bring To Israels Saviour and Heav'ns New-born King To you this more than common Honour 's done To ' approach your God and Worship at his humble Throne Make haste nor by your own delay For others to prevent your Joys give way Why should they first be happy whilst you only stay For Kings shall come e're long from th' East By a less Flame than what 's your Guide Directed hi'ther to find that Rest Which seems not theirs till by ' you accepted or deny'd Of you God takes the first and greatest Care Who thus by Angels Summon'd are When they tho Kings and coming from afar Shall wait and both to call and lead them only have a Star 14 Jan. 166â— The STAR A Carol For the Epiphany by the III Kings SEe how that Glorious Star at Noon does rise And like another Sun new Guilds the Skies Look how it dares the Ruler of the Light And in His clearest Beams appears more bright Calling before its time the sluggish Night Rather the Conquer'd Sun to ' its Rays gives way And but a Phospher seems to its new Day The Conquer'd Sun c. Chorus trium Sure 't is no common Star see where it goes A daring Passage it self only knows And cross the Heav'n points out to Palestine And as it that way leads more bright does shine Come let us follow where it leads and see What may the Cause of its appearing be Whether it set a Star or some Divinity Come let us c. Chorus alter trium Some greater Power which to direct our Way Has chose this borrowed Shape and glorious Ray And when we knew not well which Road to go Does tow'rds Judea our great Journey show That way it points that way we must along No fear when Heaven 's out Guide we should go wrong That way c. Chorus trium tertius O're Bethle'm lo at length the Flame does rest Bethle'm that with the Prince of Peace is blest Bethle'm which must by ancient Prophecy The Tyring-House of the Almighty be Where he will cloath Himself with base Humanity And that 's the House where we our Gifts must bring To the World's God and Israel's Infant King Chorus Omnium Hither 't was hither the bright Star did lead Let 's enter humbly and approach with Fear The Star which brought will shew him us more clear And be a Glory round the Infants Head O this is He fall down and worship him fall down And kiss his Feet whose Head ev'n Heav'n thus stoops to Crown 23. Decemb. 1660. The PASSION An Ode I. TWice sixteen Years have almost o're Thee past Twice sixteen more Thou mayst as fondly waste In expectation Sylvius as thou hast The swift-wing'd Years which in their Passage scap'd thee last The Kalendar is searcht and all in vain Wouldst Thou have this Day return To the same Point as when in ' it Thou wert Born But 't will not be this Age if it e're come again Enough 'tis that Thou once didst see The great Conjunction Wait not o're long for what may be Too late for Thee And is sufficient of it self alone Without that Circumstance to fill Thy Song For grant it now what could to Thee be ' apply'd But that thy Birth fell out the Night thy Saviour Di'd II. Rise then my Muse but from a nobler Ground And sing in Numbers mournful as the Day Of Natures fright and disarray Which did Philosophy confound And scattered dismal Horrours all around When Heaven and Earth and Hell partook In the Darkness and the Night Which like a Sea o'reflow'd the plains of Light And all Spectators with amazement strook Unlike to that which once in Egypt raign'd When solid Night did Rhamases invest But Goshen of the Sun possest Over the Gleam a Prospect gain'd And uninvellopt saw how far the Heav'ns were stain'd Nor was it to the Antipodes The Day had hastned his access For they unsensible of Light Lay buried all the while in Night And without Miracle could not behold it bright Unless Thou add'st the Prodigie to raise And which none else but Thou O Muse dares say Th' Antipodes at Midnight rose to gaze And Night Jerusalem less admir'd than they the Day III. A thought too wild this and extravagant And which does all but its own airy basis want Say rather that the Pangs and Agonies Of a new and better World Which was thence to take its rise Were thus conceal'd from Mortal Eyes And Darkness as at first o're all th' Expansion hurld God's sacred Kingdom was that Birth The same New Heaven and new Earth Which the belov'd Disciple saw In all its Beauties as it did appear And to provoke Adventurers there A Chart thereof by Vision did exactly draw For on the Cross as our great Saviour hung And just Expiring bow'd his Conquering Head From the black Skies bright beams like Lightning sprung But as the Day continued long Chasing wing'd Darkness which before them fled And as the first Creations Work begun By the commanding Word which He To Nothing and to Chaos sed Making when He spake only Let there be By a no less Word this too was done Created by that Voice which cry'd T is Finished IV. 'T is Finished the Mighty Victor cry'd All reaking in Triumphal Gore Which his own Wounds not Enemies Necks supply'd For tho with them He Skirmisht had before And oft rebated had their Power He could not throughly for us Conquer till He Di'd Alone He did the Wine-press tread Of his Just Father's Wrath alone Israels to raise stoopt his own Head And to assist Him was there none So far from that that i th' pursuit Of Satan Sin and Death when He cry'd out With fainting Groans I Thirst His Patience some and some his Conquest Curst And Gall and Vinacre of the bitter Tree was all the Fruit. Till having tasted of the Brook i th' way Anew He follow'd till He gain'd the Day And to compleat his Victory Got thence more Aids and strength enough to Die V. Blest Saviour who but Thou couldst Live so long And in one Soul so many Deaths endure And different all and all their Pains so strong That their rehearsal does fresh Griefs ensure And again pierce those Hearts Thou bledst to Cure When in the Garden Thou didst first begin Gethsemane for ease design'd And safe retirements of a troubled Mind Purging thence all th' effects of Sin Which still tho hid remaind behind The dregs of what on Man in Paradise brake in Fatal but happy Place that where did grow Midst whole Woods no less beauteous but one Tree That even by Wilfulness alone could be The occasion of our Misery
thus shame on those Whose either Atheism or Impiety Dare the Tremendous Figure or expose Or subject make it of foul Raillery And to vile Lust embase the Mystery That of their Happ'ness have so little sense Their God their Souls and their Civility That they with things most sacred can dispense And rather than not give it take from Heav'n offence XLVII From Thee most sacred and inspired Song The humblest Condescention of Heav'ns King From which my roving Verse has stray'd too long Led by the Mock-love and now late does sing Next that the humblest which with Saffron Wing Gabriel the True-loves mighty Harbinger Foretold to the' EVER-VIRGIN e're the thing Was full accomplisht and thereof did bear When done first News and what the signs to know him were XLVIII Signs too unlikely till by Angels told Whereby the Maker of all things to find For who would think a simple Cratch should hold Eternal Majesty mean Swathings bind Th' Incomprehensible and Unconfin'd And that an Ox and Ass were company To Scorn enur'd and labour by their kind In an Inns-Stable fit for God Most High And that a Babe should be that God and expos'd lie XLIX Yet signs they were with Heav'n which suited best And best with God when God should Flesh appear And so was Wedlock thence to be exprest E're that time came the Image he should bear Or rather what our selves allyed to ' him near Nearer by Purchase than Creation Should thence become like Glories with him wear And since to us it could not else be known Till Man to Heav'n should rise high Heav'n to Man bring down L. By Love to bring it And by Love HE brought it Who all the Mysteries of Love did know Second alone to Loves dear self who taught it As or above it was or as below And in thee Song its Mystic Power did show Not as thy Words to ' us sound but as thy Sense To th' Church apply'd by â—oly Churches Vow Must be expounded with this Difference Of God 't is Figure All of Man all Innocence LI. Of Soul and Body but of Soul the most Whose Acts and Motions Thou dost most intend By views Material to our Light dispos'd But where the Matter does all Act suspend And shadows what it cannot comprehend Is nothing or as nothing how e're laid Compar'd with what comparison does transcend Nor meant at all tho by it all is said That 's said of Love which through its broken Pipe 's convey'd LII So wouldst Thou Song so must Thou be understood And short of this who e're Thy Flight would bound To th' Deity sacrifices Human Blood And fixes on th' Impassible that Wound Which the Mock-love to offer had astound For He soon as he heard the words Divine His Sentence in them and his Doom he found At which affrighted back he did resign All he before usurpt nor ought had to rejoyn LIII Happy he so could scape tho e're away Cast and condemn'd he into Exile went The True Love who long waited for that Day Hymen his great Embassadour down sent To beg some Exemplary Punishment And Caution that he would return no more But all the Caution which to give he meant Was but his Word nor longer tâ—at than Power Should fail him to attempt what he had done before LIV. For Punishment 't was yet too early Day To move or hope Himself enough had done By those Spoyls which unforce'd he down did lay The Jurisdiction of Heav'ns Court to own Whom that acknowledgment must serve or none And out he went with stern and bloody Eyes And bitter Railings on blest Hymen thrown Who all his Railings did no less despise Content since he no more could get with the bare Prize LV. Marriage restor'd to ' its Just and Ancient Right And all th' Intents to which it was design'd Marriage which once secur'd does Souls unite And made in Heav'n to Heav'n so near is joyn'd That only there we purer Love can find Marriage of th Fallen World the best Estate Marriage most Honourable with Mankind Which to abuse a Man his Flesh must hate Marriage God's Blessing when He gave o're to create To the Muse ODE PINDARIC I. STROPHE BUT whither bear'st Thou me O Love Sovereign Disposer of all things Beyond the flight of Verses Wings Which after Thee a Course unequal move So swift Thy passage is and wondrous light Scarce can I of Thee get the sight And all so here and there So unconfin'd and every where Appear Thou dost and disappear A Phantosm Thou would'st reckned be But that whole Nature lives alone by Thee I. ANTISTROPHE From Heav'n to Earth from Earth again To Heav'n who has Loves Journy trace't Hail ye bright Stars which saw him last And greater Lustre by his grant obtain You last of all his parting Charge receiv'd And still to keep it are believ'd In times and seasons thence Which you to all his Works dispense With kind and wholesome Influence And at his Thrones dread Footstool wait Illustrious Guards and Messengers of Fate I. EPODOS Happy the Man whose noble Soul Hath rais'd him to a pitch so high That he the Heav'ns as they about him roll Undazled can behold with curious Eye And every Mystic note That 's in their Mighty Volume wrote As clearly understand As if acquainted with no other hand Yet happier He by far Who like the Kings first guided by a Star Obtains like Royal Grace Into the Sacred Presence usher'd thus to pass II. STROPHE An Honour done but to a few As few there be who care to joyn Their quest to th' search of Love Divine Thither applying what from thence they drew Heav'ns Priests and Loves who have the lucky skill Both Services at once to fill Nor like the most all day Or Idle stand or play And gaze tho' on Heaven their Age away Of Love who largely boast the Name But never saw his Light or felt his Flame II. ANTISTROPHE At once both Services he fill'd Whom the Muse sings both knows the best Of any who e're those Gifts possest In Books so different so divinely skill'd Natures and God's the Gloss that this the Text And read together unperplext While that by ' it self alone Read as too oft is done But Altars rears to ' a God unknown To th' True this does a way provide But difficult to walk without a Guide II. EPODOS Not SETH whose Pillars Fabulous Surviv'd the all-devouring Flood Taught the New World the Half he teaches us Were all he taught as well but understood Tho when of Love He treats And His high Mysteries repeats All hear and what is heard By all for certain Truth is so rever'd The ravisht Soul resents Its teadious stay and future joys prevents Rapt in Ecstatic Fires To the Divine Aboads almost i th' Flame expires III. STROPHE Witness Thou Sarums sacred Pile Which from the day Thou first cam'st down From the parcht neighbouring Hill the Town Attending Thee and shouting all the while None
vast expence LXVI Death such a Bankrupt therefore flies Hasting to those who call'd or call'd him not By Loves own Hands crown'd for the Sacrifice And or pursue'd or i' th' pursuit were hot E're well aware to th' end of all things got By Death inglorious and with Infamy Of most Luxurious Livers the hard lot Yet which Love colour'd with such Maistery That the most follow'd what the most did seem to flie LXVII For Love had thousand Deaths at his command And every Lover might his own Fate make Which some did but by'a way so under-hand That from the praise of Love it much did take And many 'a Lover lost he for their sake Tho such he pleaded were by him giv'n o're If all might be believ'd which then Love spake Nor could to his account be reckoned more Than if thus or a Natural Death they dy'd before LXVIII Be the Point therefore as it will for me Who list not further of it here to tell Enough are Lovers Deaths we daily see And so 't was then a Songs scant bounds to swell Nor yet for Love or them contriv'd so well But that one midst the Pomp might easily find The Mighty by whose cruel Hands they fell And Verdict give the Murther was design'd By th' Pains they felt before Reproach they left behind LXIX Pains more than can of Mortal Tongue be told And sharper than e're Tyran did invent Which the whole Man did in strait Fetters hold Till tortur'd Nature quite worn out was spent Of Love the Guerdon and the Punishment Yet Tyrans Racks found out the Pale and Wheel And Fire and all that can by Fire torment Or be prepar'd th' â—x and derr-doing Steel But make no wounds all set with those which Lovers feel LXX Thrice and than thrice more wretched state of Love When Innocence and Truth to Heav'n were gone But seve'n times wretcheder it yet did prove When this Mock-love wholly usurpt the Throne As he ' after did and single reign'd alone With Name and Pow'r alike usurpt yet was Ah! What not was he But 't is time to ' have done With him who can to Verse give little grace And in another Canto to the True Love pass 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE LEGEND OF LOVE CANTO III. I. TIRE'D with the Way I have already gone Longer by many a Stage than setting out I thought it would have prov'd and where there 's none To guide me in the search I am about How well I shall succeed is my great doubt Who almost of the Enterprize repent Wishing I better of it first had thought At least before me some Espials sent Who might have told the hazard of the bold Attempt II. But to repent alas 't is now too late And in the last Act fail a wrong to Love Which in another I should surely hate And cannot in my self unblam'd approve What Arguments so e're Distrust may move Which many cogent seem and weighty all But all which by this singleâ—One I reprove That well if well if ill succeed I shall 'T is not inglorious from the noblest heights to fall III. But help me Love and I 'll not yet despair For other Muse I dare not invocate None but thy Self with whom the Treasures are Of bright Idaeas tho discover'd late To me who half my time in Darkness sat Ylamped only by a Foolish Fire Whose wandring guidance I now deprecate Led by it often and my vain desire To whence I could not till Thy Day brake out retire IV. At length it brake out and I came to know How wofully I had mistook my Way Shine forth again with double Glory now And in my Verse Thy fairest Beams display That others with me in it triumph may And having their Night Sullys thence refin'd Carol with sacred Hymn's to th' Beauteous Day Carol to Thee by Heav'n and God design'd The Counterfeit to ' uncase and Eyes restore the Blind V. LONG had the Mock-love by his false disguise Upon the Credulous World impos'd but more Upon himself if he had been so wise To think how much 't would cost him to restore And what by tort he ' had snatcht a new pay o're But this alas came seldom in his thought Rather perverse still as he was before The World which he had into Bondage brought Eternally to ' enthral was th' only Prize he sought VI. This was his aim nor to rebate it found Save Prophecies of a Supplauters race Which well he knew not and could worse expound Wherein the happy Country was the place Whence was foretold should come his great disgrace But when or how tho himself Oracles gave Too hard to be resolv'd was the dark case Nor could he any certain knowledg have Who should the Mighty Conqueror be his Thralls to ' unslave VII The happy Country well enough he knew Part of his Syria to be ' hight Palestine Wherefore he thither his Chief Forces drew And seiz'd it first by 'a more than double Trine Of cursed Nations from the Great Chams Line Cham who first gave him credit by his Arms And then his Empire to him did resign Cham whom he thus rewarded for the harms He had sustain'd to be Camp-Master of his Charms VIII Seven cursed Nations of his cursed Seed To be its constant Guard Love thither sent Who â—â—ll'd the Land so with their cursed Breed That scarce was left him room for his own Tent Less for new Col'onies if such thither went A stup d bestial and unmanly Rout That all their Age in Lusts unnatural spent Till the time came their Land should spue them out Too long opprest and bring the dread Foresight about IX Lovâ— saw it coming and began to fear When Jacob's numerous Host from Bondage led Unto the Cananitish bounds drew near Seising the Nations with unusual Dread While Seas to make them way rose up and fled But never did he more confounded stand Than when he Jordan saw recoil to ' his Head And to new Armies shar'd by Lot his Land Supplanted e're he did th' Supplanters understand X. Before he doubted those would prove the Men And therefore when they were upon the Way From Madian drest a Female Stratagem By which above two Myriads slaughter'd lay Tho Madian for it after dear did pay And he who gave the Counsel with them fell Balam their Priest and his the Sword did slay To expiate for th' Whoredoms he did sell And more advise than by Prophetic rage foretel XI But then he knew it and in every Age As Israel did in wealth and power encrease New Wars would with the Holy People wage Wars Amorous the sad result of Peace Nor his Assaults defeated oft surcease Till David was exalted to the Throne With Testimony that he God did please As Enoch had and then Love gave for gone All he before had gain'd and by his Conquests won XII Ah! that it had been gone and that his sway Had here expir'd But Jesses Son soon fell A victim at his Altars
his own the Life o' th' World to spare VII Teach the World Child and make his Israel know Whence their Salvations mighty Source does flow That from Remission of their Sin The mighty Source does first begin Through our God's tender Mercy who the Way To Pardon does by Penance lay Penance which does the glories of his Grace display VIII That Grace whereby the Day-spring from on High Now visits us with Streams which ne're shall die Streams of pure Aethereal Light To shine on those who in darkness sit Which Death 's pale shadow shall with Rays encrease And hopes long Pris'ners thence release And both theirs guide and our feet into th' way of Peace V. HYMN The ANGELIC Hymn Gloria in Altissimis c. GLORY be to God on High i th' Highest Great Jehovah bless Good will tow'rds Men on Earth be Peace Glory to God on High And may this Round begun thus last eternally VI. HYMN The Song of SIMEON Nunc dimittis servum tuum c. I. ENOUGH my God enough I beg no more Nor Thou tho begg'd canst greater Grace bestow My Prayers at length are answer'd and I ' adore The Word which from thy Mouth did go The Word which like thy Self no change does know And now Thy Servant is content to die Now as the best time since Thy Word and Life 's so nigh II. Nigh is the Word which Thou to me didst pass Nor has Death come me and Thy CHRIST between As nigh is Life Thy other Word which I embrace And who that has thus happy been In two great Words fulfill'd one t'other seen Would not like me desire in peace to die And mortal Life exchange for Immortality III. In Peace I die and Thou dismissest me My God in Peace since with these very Eyes Before their change I Thy Salvation see And lack not from the Dead to rise As Prophets must to ' approve their Prophecies By Faith they only at a distance saw What in my Arms I hold the end of all their Law IV. Hail blest Salvation of the Eternal King Hail Thou who hither bringst it Blessed Child In whom as holy Bards inspir'd do sing Those wondrous Truths shall be fulfill'd Which to Immortal Verse shall subject yield Hail to you both prepar'd of God to be This Worlds Redemption Heav'ns and Angels scrutiny V. Such is the great Behest such is Thy Will Who now before all Nations dost prepare What shall with joyous Praise all Nations fill As in Him all have equal share Thy Son who shall to those who ' in darkness are Rise as the World's Sun does with scattered Light But Israels Glory be with Rays like ' his own Flames bright Comiato To Sir Nicholas Stuart Baronet SONGS made in lieu of many more And more than Songs which to his Love I owe Who when your Master waited at the Door First let him in and sacred Honours did bestow You blessed Songs i th' Temple first to sing And then to Descant on an humbler thing To his and your lov'd Patron go And tho you ne're can recompence The ease and leasure both of us have thence Proffer the utmost service Verse can do And as He is your Ornament Be of my grat'itude and his Virtue the fixt Monument The VIII Great HYMNS of the Apocalyps I. HYMN The Adoration of the XXIV ELDERS Gratias agimus tibi Domine Deus Optime I. WORTHY Thou art all Honour to receive Thrice Honour'd we who may that Honour give Blest King who in One undivided now The scatter'd Parts of Time collected hast The Future Present and the Past And every Time and Age dost in one moment know II. We praise Thee ' Almighty God for that Thou ' hast tane To Thee thy great Power and at length dost Reign Thou Reign'st and tho the Nations troubled are Thy Wrath is come and therewith come the Time When Thou wilt sentence every Crime And all the Dead shall for the Great Assize prepare III. Up shall they rise and as their Works have been Or Shame or Glory on all Brows be seen Thy Prophets and Thy Saints shall shout for joy And all who fear Thy Name both small and great But Vengeance from Thy Judgment Seat Th' Earths bold Destroyers shall eternally destroy II. HYMN The Acclamation of Heaven upon MICHAEL's overthrow of the Dragon and his Angels Nunc facta est Salus Virtus c. I. NOW is Salvation now is come the Hour That long expected never shall be done Now Reigns our God with whom in equal Power And strength Enthron'd sits his Anointed Son They Reign and Judg and having Judgment past The Brethrens great Accuser or'e the Bar have cast II. Both Night and Day the Brethren he accus'd Heav'ns common Barrettor with Charge unjust Their Patience and the Judges Grace abus'd Tho from them the forg'd Calumny they thrust And his false Evidence or'e-rul'd bore down By the Lambs Blood in Court attested and their own III. These were the Pleas whereby they overcame And these the Witnesses call'd and allow'd Which ev'n the Devil their slanderer heard with shame And self-condemn'd to the just Sentence bow'd Greater their Word was than could be deni'd But greater yet their Testimony that they Di'd IV. For this O Heav'ns rejoyce and ye who there In Sacred Bliss uninterrupted dwell Rejoyce and a part with you let them bear Who from below shall of your Justice tell With joy shall Sing how the' Dragon overthrown From Heav'ns high-top to th' Earth was tumbled down V. But wo worth you to whom in wrath he 's come Of Earth and Sea the miserable ' out-cast On whom he 'll seek to be aveng'd the Doom Was on himself and curs'd Abettors past With rage he comes and whole Hells last effort Fury incenst because he knows his time 's but short III. HYMN The Happy Dead Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur I. BLEST are the Dead who in the Lord depart From henceforth Blessed write them down For Labours tho and Pain they have known Of neither feel they more the irksome smart II. So says the Spiri't for but to ' enjoy full rest From all their Toils are they remov'd And of their Works by God approv'd That follow close in Bliss they are possest IV. HYMN The Song of MOSES and of the LAMB Magna Mirabilia sunt opera c. I. GREAT are thy Works and marvelous thy Praise Lord God Almighty just and true Thy Ways Blest King of Saints who would not fear In Thy dread Presence to appear Whom Angels and attending Thrones revere II. Who would not Fear Thee Lord and Glorifie That Name of Thine which Thou hast rais'd so high Thy Holy Name by which Thou art known For Holiness is Thine alone But better than each single Man by ' his own III. Take then Blest King what is Thy proper due And through all Landâ— and Coasts Thy Right persue That eve'ry Coast and every Land Who wondring
at thy Judgments stand May Worship Thee and stoop to their Command V. HYMN The Angel of the Waters Lauds Justus es Domine qui es qui eras c. I. RIGHTEOUS art Thou O God who art and wast And shalt be when all time is past The first who reignedst and the last Righteous art Thou who hast this Day Thy Kingdoms Justice to display Righteously judg'd that Blood shall Blood repay II. Thy Servants Blood they without mercy shed And to be ' aveng'd of th' happy Dead Made by curst hands the Living bleed With big swoln Veins Thy Prophets stood Each Saint the Genius of his Flood Pour'd from his opened Heart true streams of Blood III. For Blood they thirsted and to drink have now Pure Blood wherewith their Rivers flow So worthy they so Righteous Thou Et andivi alterum dicentem Etiam Domine So Righteous Thou so worthy they Who did Thy Saints and Prophets slay For Blood to ' have Blood and Blood in Blood repay VI. HYMN The holy Company of Heaven rejoycing at the overthrow of BABYLON Allelu-ja Laus Gloria Virtus I. HALLELUJAH To our King Honour Power and Glory sing Laud and Worship to Him bring True and Righteous are whose Ways Both deserves and has our Praise II. True and Righteous is his Doom For in Judgment overcome Chain'd the great Whore stands and Dumb Chain'd she stands and Dumb withal Without Friend or Voice to call III. Judg'd she is who th' Earth did stain With her Prostituted Train Justly judg'd to ' Eternal Pain And aveng'd the Blood she shed Dying ever is never dead Et dixerunt iterum Halleluja IV. Hallelujah to our King Worship Laud and Praises bring Glory Power and Honour sing Lo how up her Smoke does rise Who dead ever never Dies Ceciderúntque viginti quatuor Seniores c. dixerunt Amen c. V. Even so Lord be it so That the Earth Thy Power may know And thence make Thy Praise to grow One bless'd Song with us may sing Halleluja to our King VII HYMN Epithalamium on the LAMBS Marriage Et vox de Throno exivit dicens laudem dicite Deo c. I. PRAISE Him ye Servants of th' Eternal King To God your noblest Praises sing And make Heav'ns vault with the loud Eccho ring Praise Him all ye who fear his Name And o're th' Expanse his Lauds proclaim Both great and small in tuneful Shouts accord And with one Heart and Voice adore our Lord Et audivi quasi vocem turbae magnae sicut vocem aquarum multaram sicut vocem tonitruorum magnorum dicentium Alleluja quoniam c. II. Hallelujah Sing aloud Lowder still th' harmonious Voice Till it drown a Thunders Noise And with gay Horror fill th' admiring Crowd For Lo our God Omnipotent does Reign And to himself resumes the Rule again III. Let us be glad now and let us rejoyce And give him due Honour who made us this Day A Day that compensates for all our Annoys And Ages that we for its Coming did pray The Lamb's marriage-Marriage-day which tho long e're it came We meet and greet thus with our Songs purest flame IV. 'T is come and does with hallow'd Glory shine So bright a Day in Heav'n did ne're appear Tho ever Day and bright 't is ever there As this illumin'd by the Sun Divine And for ' his own Nuptials made with high Design But yet how bright so e're it is His Bride new Lustre to it gives Who in her Glory waits Him as He her in his V. See where She stands array'd in Glorious wise Second alone to Him who ever lives Above the boldest flight wing'd Seraph strives Who ne're such Beauties with Immortal Eyes E're gaz'd on save in Him whose is the Prize For beside what 's Her proper Dower Charms which th' Almighty overcame Heav'n all its riches on Her Dress does pour VI. Choice of rich Garments has She thence and store Presented from the Wardrobe of the Lamb Of Gems that blaze with an Ethereal flame Enough all but the Wearer to devour And all but Heav'n to apprize them find too poor Choice of fine Linnen clean and bright Beyond the skill of Mortal Art Washt in the Lambs pure Blood and there made White VII These are Her Robes and these Her Lord's delight Who from His Presence ne're will let Her part But thus Array'd resigns to Her his Heart The Righteousness of th' Saints with sacred Light Communicated from his own blest Sight Thrice happy they thrice happy he Who when their Mortal Life is done The Bridgroom's Friends to ' his Supper call'd shall be L'envoy Thrice happy I my God if I be one One of the few whom then Thou shalt invite No matter how Thou shalt dispose of me The meanest service Regal Honours does impart VIII HYMN The Exultation of Heaven at the Descent of the New JERUSALEM Et audivi magnam vocem de Throno dicentem Ecce Tabernaculum Dei cum c. I. BLEST state of Innocence When out of his just Makers Hand The first Man came with sacred influence If what he might he ' had kept the' unhâ—ard Command But happier far that state To which he is restored tho late By him who made Man Man did first Create II. A greater Work this was As to redeem it more did cost Than barely make the one by a Word did pass His Life the WORD to ' effect the other lost But there-with did provide What none could hope or do beside That they should th' happiest be for whom he Died. III. Happy were both but these By this the more that when God went To Paradise himself in ' his Works to please And pleas'd to Heav'n strait took his great Asecnt A longer stay below To make with his Redeemed now Heav'ns richest Grace he does on Earth bestow IV. For now behold his Tent With Man is pitcht and there Hee ' l dwell Late to 〈◊〉 and I 'm his Herald sent 〈…〉 News to the whole World to tell 〈…〉 God to Man comes down 〈◊〉 Man to dwell as Man be known Whose Form assum'd he keeps still joyn'd to ' his own V. With them Hee ' l dwell and they His People he their God will be Not as of Old alone but in a way Unthought and of exalted Dignity Where each Relations Band By various Titles on each hand Made Indissoluble fast knit does stand VI. God from their Eyes all Tears Away shall wipe they in his Praise Endless Eternity shall spend No fears No fighs more tempests in their Brests shall raise Eve'n Death shall be no more Nor Sin that to it op'd the Door Nor pain for former things are all past or'e VII Past o're they are and gone So says the Faithful and the True The High the Holy God who from his Throne Pronounces thus Lo I make all things New And thou to whom it 's made known O Man belov'd The words write down Nor doubt
Debora awake And from this hint fresh vigour take Encourage and provoke Thy Lyre Till all its speaking Chords conspire And with Thy Voice a perfect Concert make Up Barak at th' harmonious Sound Abinoams warlike Sâ—n arise Lo Thy Captivity stands in Fetters bound To be Thy valours early Prize And dreadfully adorn Thy entrance with its Exequies Lead on Great Prince by God ordain'd To be Thy Nations Glory and this Days Who hast Thy self the heat of th' War sustain'd Tho Women with Thee share divided Praise And all the while Thou dost the sacred Mount ascend Boldly Thy Ransom'd Peoples shouts attend The Bays Thou wearest will Thy Head defend Yea speak Thy self how God made Thee The Captain of his Armies be And when retir'd Thou long hadst lain at Home How forth he call'd Thee to o'recome The strange deliv'erance by Thy Hands he wrought And how to mine he Judgment gave And let the Tribes which with us fought A just Memorial in our Triumphs have VI. Ex Ephraim delevit eos Place Ephraim here Ephraim whose Fortitude In Amaleks first overthrow was try'd When stoutly he th' Uncircumcis'd defi'd And with unerring Shafts their flying Troops pursu'd Benjamin with his Squadron follow'd close And his scorn'd Life more nobly to expose The Tribe he dearest lov'd for witness of his Courage chose From Machir Princes to the Battel came And Counsellors from Zabulon Who to encrease the glory of their Name Kept by the Sword what by the Pen they won Then Issachar and Napthali By Debora that and this by Barak led Both valiant Tribes and both resolv'd to die Or conquer with so brave an Head But had you seen the Emulation there And how they strove each other to out-fight You would have thought them arm'd with Heav'nly Might And all so terrible they did appear Such Trophies of Mail'd Corps did round them rear That every Israâ—elite a destroying Angel were VII Diviso contra se Ruben Ruben the while did with his Flocks abide And blest the Flood whose streams the parted Land divide Careless of what his Brethr'en thought And what the fears his cold indiffernce wrought Strange and distracted fears his cold indifference brought But why O Ruben why didst thou refuse An Enterprize so great and good Was it to hear thy bleating Ews Or could thy Honour be so little understood That their plain Fleeces thou shouldst chuse Before a Robe di'd Purple in thine Enemies blood This cold indifference Ruben lost thee more Than ever thou in Arms hadst gain'd before Ah! hadst thou been alone but far behind By thy example Gilead stai'd On Shipboard Dan drove on his Trade And Asser that he might be signally unkind Tho of pale Death too Womanly affraid Rather than yield his aid Watcht on his naked Beaches torn with Seas and Wind. Unlike to Zabulon and Nepthali Who best knew how to Live yet fear'd the least to Die VIII Zabulon vero Nepthali c. Thither my Song behold their Ensigns spred On the High-places and how equally endu'd With Learning and with Conduct too they shew'd That never friendlier those best gifts inhabited And softer thoughts designs more noble bred The Cananitish Kings approacht the Hill Tabor by their defeat to be renown'd But fearful to ascend its top did fill The Plains of Tanaach with their Camps around And lowd Megiddos Waters with their shoutings drown'd They came and fought but Heav'n that took our part Bore the first shock and on them turn'd the War A mortal shaft was sent from every Star Which sank like Lead into the Spoilers Heart No Gain or Pay the Sacred Legions took But to the Service arm'd in Diamond marcht on And whom they spar'd Kison that ancient Brook Kison in its swoln Torrent carri'd down In vain the Horse assay'd the Flood to stem Which hurld their Riders with them down the rapid stream IX Conculca Anima mea robustos Enough my Soul enough the chase give o're Those Enemies thou hast seen thou shalt behold no more Stop for at length the War is done And thou in Blood I know tak'st no delight Sound a Retreat the Day 's thine own And so shall Sisera too e're Night Finding the Death he 'd shun by an inglorious flight But first confirm a Curse was laid By our God's Angel and a Charge divine Curse ye Meros the Angel said Curse Meros bitterly and join Yours to Jehovah's Curse and mine Curse all who dwell there and be this their Doom Who like them to th' Almighty's â—tandard will not come But blessed above Women be Israels and Hebers Ornament Jabel above all Women blest i th' Tent. And let this Song preserve her Memory Never was greater Name Recorded i th' Eternal Monuments of Fame X. Aquam petenti lac dedit To her on foot Sisa'ra his flight addrest The courteous Wife to meet him went The courteous Wife invited him into her Tent And future Joys with thoughtful Cares supprest He askt her Water and she ran in haste To execute her own and to prevent his Wish And pour'd him Milk into a Royal Dish A ready and a quick repast And having give'n the fatal Bait Humbly at his Feet did wait And smil'd to see how greedily he drank and slept his last Sleep Tyrant sleep she said And up a Nail and Hammer took The Nail into his Temples struck And with his own unbloody Sword smote off his Head He bowd he fell and at her Feet he lay Down at her Feet he bow'd fell groan'd his Soul away Where he bow'd there he fell down dead XI Per fenestram respiciens Out at a Window his blith Mother gaz'd And waiting there his coming cry'd Why lies the Dust so long unrais'd Nor Sisara yet with Captives by his side Exalted high in his triumphal Chariot ride Her Ladies answer'd her Those Ora'cles of the Court Yea to her self she made her own report Have they not sped have they not gain'd the Day Have they not shar'd the Israelitish Prey To every Man a Dame or two To Sisara as the General 's due Choice of rich Slaves and choice of Garments too A curious Vest with Needles wrought With curious Needles wrought on either side And all in Royal Colours dy'd By th' Hebrews of their Neighbour Tyrians bought And only sit the Victors bloody arms to hide So Lord may all Thine Enemies die So Conquer and be Conquered so When such as on Thy Power relie In Heav'n alone their equals know And like the Sun which triumphs there Crown'd with illustrious Beams and robe'd in Light appear Comiato To the Reverend the now Dr. James Gardiner Sub-Dean of Lincoln SONG in the Country little understood For my dear Gardiner at the Town inquire And all thy heat into his gen'rous Brest inspire To mingle with a nobler Fire Which lies at present smouldring in his Blood Perchance thou may'st effectual prove To make that upward tow'rds its Center move And him in softest lays rehearse the HOLIEST LOVE 1668. David's
by the Rivers side Whose loaded Boughs in Fruits return Their Tribute to the Tide No Storm or Drought shall make him fade But he unmov'd shall stand Nor shall Success less prosp'rous crown What e're he takes in hand No so the Wicked who as Chaff By Tempests rais'd on high The triumph of fierce Winds are made And as they drive them flie Unlike in Life unlike shall be The ends which on them wait Whilst these in Judgment cannot stand And those are prais'd i th' Gate For why the ways of Righteous Men Unto the Lord are known But Sinners ways hid to themselves Unto the Dead lead down PSAL. LVII Miserere mei Deus miserere GREAT God on whom I have reli'd Whose Mercy is my stay Under Thy Wings or let me hide Or on them flie away Or hide or flie until the Storm Which threatens me is past Thou all things for me dost perform In Thee my hope is plac'd To God I 'll cry who shall descend From Heav'n i th' Fight to close And while his Love does me defend His Truth shall slay my Foes With Lions Lord my Soul lies down shut up within their Den Lions so fierce were never known Cruel and bloody Men. Whose Tongues are Swords and Eyes all Fire With gore and slaughter Red And who against me all conspire To look or speak me Dead Yet set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're th' Earth exalted be For tho so high I cannot rise Thou mayst stoop down to me Thou didst so for as I lookt round Pensive and full of care My prostrate Enemies strew'd the Ground Each tane in his own Snare Fixt is my Heart to sing Thy Praise T is fixt and I 'll rejoyce Awake my Harp and with Thee raise To Heav'n my tuneful Voice I will awake too and my Song To th' Nations shall rehearse Mercies whose Praise to Heav'n belong Worthy an Angels Verse Lord set Thy Glory ' above the Skies O're the Earth exalted be Lo how thy Son does thither rise Lift from the Grave by Thee Turn'd and Transcrib'd with the following Psalm for an Hymn upon Easter-day 1671. PSAL. CXIV In exitu Israel de c. WHEN Israel was by God's address And his Almighty Hand From Bondage led and wondrously Brought to the Promis'd Land In Judah God his Glory shew'd And did his Power declare Israel his great Inheritance Temple and Empire were The Sea it saw and suddenly Amaz'd rose up and fled The parted streams of Jordans Flood Ran trembling to their Head Aside the Mountains leapt like Rams And to the Hills did show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go What ail'd the Sea that all amaz'd So suddenly it fled And what made Jordans parted streams Run trembling to their Head Why did the Mountains leap like Rams And to the Hills first show The Hills which shook like frighted Lambs The way which they should go Confess O Earth thy Soveraign Lord And at his Presence quake Before the Face of Jacob's God Bow and Obeysance make 'T is he who caus'd those Rocks to hear And when Thy Springs are dry Can from their flinty Bowels fetch Streams which shall never die PSAL. CLI According to the LXXII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. I. YOUNGEST of all my Brethren and the least In the Jessean House to ' a Service I enclin'd Which both my Age and Innocence suited best And best the Throne to which I was design'd My Fathers Flock was early set to keep And how to govern Men first learn among my Sheep II. I kept and fed them with a pious care And as they fed my Harp and Pipe assayd Them and my self to please did Songs prepare And variously as pensive Shepherd playd Till having wearied out an humbler String A bolder flight I dare'd Israels Great God to Sing III. But who such Praise can worthily rehearse I strove my best and it acceptance found With Heav'ns Blest King who to approve my Verse A double Glory round my Temples bound By ' his Prophets Hand there plac'd the Regal Crown From the Flock calling me the Poet 's with his own IV. I many Brethren had and great of Might All valiant Men and all renown'd in War Oft tri'd but God in them took no delight For Causes tho from us removed far To ' himself best known who sees not as Man sees But as the Heart is judges and gives Dignities V. For that and his own Pleasure He chose me And having chosen call'd me forth to fight With Raphas Giant-son whose blasphemy Levell'd at Heav'n on his own Head did light By ' his Gods he curst me and his Gods he curst Himself as the chief God propitiating thus first VI. But such curse Proof I out against him went The firmlier arm'd as he disarm'd thereby And certain Death into his Fore-head sent E're he the place could guard or turn to flie He fell I ran to th' lifeless Monster came From him with 's own Sword took his Head from Israel shame Job cursing his Birth After this opened Job his Mouth and cursed his Day And Job spake and said Pereat dies in qua natus sum MAY the Day perish and it s hastly flight Be still be still retarded by a sluggish Night The Day unhappy Day whereon 't was known My Mother could that name and sorrows own Let it look black as Hell no Ray appear Nor on it God in common Light draw near But unregarded may it from above To ' all other Days a different Circle move Augment the last Nights gloom and ne're be found But in a Sea of Rapes and Murder drownd Let Deaths grim Terrors on it ever dwell Of if 't has Light let it be such as fell On Sodom when avenging Heav'n did showr Tempests of Fire and flouds of Lightning pour And for the Night if yet it were the Night For any Day too bad which first disclos'd the sight Dark of it self let Horrour on it seize And when all others welcome are for th' ease And respit which they bring the toilsome care Of pains which in their Curtains hidden are Let it be Curst too and by ' a fatal Breath Doom'd not the shadow of it but very Death Sad dismal solitary know no Joys No chearful shouts but a dull confus'd noise Of Groans and Shrieks as when the parting Soul Labours in vain its dest'iny to controul And as the Criminal who to die next Morn The pity of the many and their Scorn Curses its shortness and does think it done Sooner than other Nights are well begun Let it abide Curst and grown Ominous Its Tale in some prodigious ruine lose Black be its Twilight in it rise no Star But such as when 't is seen tho from a far Famine portends and Blood and the Worlds flame And all the Plagues that have or have not Name Let it expect the Light and pine away To Darkness palpable but see no Day With thousand Curses more And Day
or Night be ' it Ev'ning or the Morn From th' Years account let it be ever torn To me it self and Heav'n and all be lost And from the number of the Days be crost O had it never been or had that Hour But barr'd the Gate and damn'd the fertil Door Unhappy Gate but Hour unhappy more Sorrow I ne're had known nor had these Eyes Beheld the Light which none but Fools can prize Rather why di'd I not making the Womb At once my busie tyring House and Tomb But by the Knees I must perverted be And live more Deaths than one to act more Plagues to see Draw th' hated Brests only to fetch supply After ten thousand Deaths new deaths to try And at the last with greater sense and torment die Had I then dy'd still as the Night or Grave My Voice had been without a Death to crave Still had I lain and in Oblivion's brest Enjoy'd a sweeter sleep and sounder rest The Earth which does in its cold Lap enfold All Arts and Arms Princes and all their Gold Which Sepulchers does for their Tombs prepare Great in their Dust and in their Ruines fair For me to Die then had I been allow'd Had markt a place amidst the awful Crowd There where untimely Births i th' Pit are thrown And through the Earths soft pores the Plains with verdure crown An awful place it is with Company The best and great'st where in appartments lie Kings and their Counsellors each in his Bed With each his Sword clapt underneath his Head For there the proud Usurpors terrors cease And there the weary are at perfect ease And the whole Region riots in the spoils of Peace Pris'ners enjoy their Liberty at least know No other Chains than what their Jaylors do Both small and great there undistinguisht be Undisturb'd by outworn Authority Masters and Servants throw those Names aside And for a nobler freedom both provide No fear of the Oppressor's there no wrong No Clamours no Reproach amidst that throng But a deep silence fills the profound wast Deaf to all calls but the last Trumpets blast Ah might I rest there Why is Death deni'd To him who seeks it in those shades to hide Who for it digs and would more gladly find That Treasure than the mines he leaves i th' way behind Light and this Life will but encrease his pain Light and this Life of which he does complain And would for ' one Death exchange but all in vain Why is Life thrust on such a Man who 's dead Dead to himself and God all comfort fled Me why is 't thrust on who the Gift despise As th' worst of this Worlds great impert'nencies Nay more its greatest Curse unwelcome Guest That never le ts me never be at rest Nor Bed nor Board their just refreshment give Which who would thus thus I 'd not always live Too long already to feel what I fear'd Sadder than can be told too doleful to be heard At rest I ne're was but compar'd with this All former Grief as gone and vanisht is And all but very Hell would be a kind of Bliss 1660. The Prayer of HABAKKUK Hab. 3. Domine audivi auditionem I. MY God I have Thy Wonders heard And their report like those who saw them feard I heard what Thou of Old hast done Revive Thy Work nor let it die But since to make us hope Thou hast begun Let our Deliverance too draw nigh Lord in the midst of th' Years appear Nor ever ever thus forbear To put an happy issue to our Fear i th' midst of th' Years Thy Greatness show For we are ready if Thou ' art but so Let us in Wrath Thy Mercy see Remembred this let that forgotten be What tho with us the full Time 's not expir'd With Thee 't is ended and by us desir'd Ages to come and Ages long since past In Heav'n where Thou art present are 'T is ever now and now will ever last O Now from Heav'n Thy Power declare And let it once be here what it is ever there II. Deus ab Austro veniet God came from Teman and the Holy One Descended from Mount Paran with a mighty Train The Earth to Heav'n did dart the Rays again And as He past the Skie with Glory shone Refined Light without allay Such as above makes Angels Day Such was His Brightness and such was His Way He was all Light but from His Side Shot forth a Beam so clear and pure That none to see it could endure And there as in the dark He did His Glories hide The Pestilence before Him went Gathering new Poysons as the old were spent Ruine and Desolation at His Feet Never to part again did meet But sworn to execute His Wrath on Man Kist and embrac'd each other close as they before Him ran III. Stetit mensus est Terram He stood and in His Hand He held a Line and measuring Wand Both to mete out and to destroy his Land Over the Earth the fatal Line He threw And that it level on all sides might lie He smote the Nations and they ' in haste withdrew Th' affrighted Earth that fain would flie Seeing it could not stir the Line did take But did with horrour and amazement shake The Rocks as it came o're their Backs did quake Bow'd down their Heads and griev'd they were so high The everlasting Mountains scatt'red lay And the perpetual Hills sank down and stole away IV. Pro iniquitate vidi Tentoria I saw the Tents of Egypt in distress Methoughts I heard their doleful groans The Land did tremble and its emptiness An hollow murmur added to its moans And shriekt a deadly eccho from the wounded Stones When not content to see their First-born slain Conquer'd on Land they once again Would try the fortune of the Main Since they the Tenth Shock could so stoutly brave They scorn'd to fear the Eleventh Wave Till they themselves and that saw buried in a Grave What ail'd the Rivers Lord what ail'd the Flood That Thou shouldst make their streams true Veins of Blood What could the Sea against Thee do So small against so great a Foe Exalted Thou so high and that so low Could it deserve Thy Wrath or roar so loud From Heav'n Thy Throne to call Thee down Or in its swellings was it grown so proud It ' sdeign'd a check from a single frown Unless in Triumph God would o're it ride And Seas from Seas below as first from those above divide V. Suscitans suscitabis Arcum So on the Sea i th' Air his Bow was seen Not by Reflection like the Rain-bow made Where all the pleasing Colours are together laid That Man might be no more afraid Of a new Deluge to be unsherd in And once more drown what it could never purge his Sin That is his Bow of Peace but this of War The Skie about it was with Darkness spread Slaughter and Gore had stain'd it red Ghastly and terrible it glistned from afar A poysoned
Arrow on the string did hang It hung a while but when the Bow He drew Drawn to the head away it flew And flying gave a deadly twang The Air a good while after rang The sound how loud the Pile how keen How would it enter when no Mail could come between Such was his Word which did their Way prepare The Oath which to the Tribes He past Making them Conquerors every where Till they were in Canaan plac'd Till to the Promis'd Land He brought them safe at last VI. Semper fluvios scindes Tâ—rrae But first the War did rage at Home Thirst a worse Foe than Amaleck to be o'recome To God for Drink they cry Not with a Wet but envious Eye For Drought long since had made those Cisterns dry They cry'd and murmur'd to ' Egypt back would go Till from the Rock God bid the Waters flow The Rock obey'd and to the sacred Rod did bow Out gusht new Streams th' admiring Earth gave way But wondred how such Rivers should come there Yet lookt again to see her fear And as she saw it quak't and ready cut in Channels lay VII Viderunt te doluerunt Montes There as He marcht the Mountains saw their God And stagger'd as he shook His Rod The surly Deep past silent by And fearful any more to look on high In humble plains of liquid Chrystal flat did lie The bolder Waves which yet would rise And with their towring Billows dare the Skies Seeing Him started and shriekt out No more of their Defiance thought And of His Presence were asham'd to doubt As when one sees some Ruine near Ready upon his Head to fall Which yet he cannot help at all Cannot prevent but with unequal strength must bear Expecting the dead weight he stands Shrinks in his Shoulders and lifts up his Hands So stood the Waves and without power to flie With rais'd up Hands and Eyes had hardly strength to cry VIII Sol Luna steterunt The Sun amaz'd stood still and at the sight Bid the Moon stop and see the bloody Fight Never was such a Fight never so long a Day When Heav'n it self did waiting stay Nor till it saw the Victors went away The Lord Himself that Day marcht out Hail-stones and Coals of Fire hurl'd all about In wrath He marcht through the whole Land And thresht the Nations as He past along His Arm so weighty and his Wrath so strong None durst against Him stand To save his People did He thus appear To them so Glorious to His Foes so full of Fear IX Percussisti Caput de domo c. To th' Earth He stroke their Princes down Their Villages destroy'd sack'd every Town Tho like a Whirlwind they against us came God for us fought in arms of Flame Flames which their blasts made fiercer burn And on themselves with double Vengeance turn In Fire God came against them and o'recame Did through the Sea on His great Horses ride Whilst Waves to make Him room stood up in heaps on either side X. Audivi contuâ—batus est c. This as I heard my Joynts unloos'd Through all my Veins chill Horrour was diffus'd My Belly trembled and my Lips did quake My Bones for very rottenness did shake Afraid I was yet could not chuse but fear When I such mighty things did here When e're I was aware The God who did them I perceiv'd drew near O may I rest when he to judg shall rise For when He does the wicked World chastise How heavy then will be His Hand how red his Eyes XI Ascendam ad Populum From Thee Lord then to my God now I flie And for Thy Mercy on Thy Power relie Propitious Thee thy Land has found and so shall I. Nothing shall make me quit my trust For Thou art Pitiful as well as Just. No tho the Fig-Tree blossom not And on the Vine the generous clusters rot Tho th' labours of the Olive cease And all the lesser Plants of Life With Man as He is with his God at strife Deny to give their rich encrease Let th' Earth threat Famine bear no Grass Iron below as Heav'n above is Brass No Fruit no Pasture yield But be with Thorns and Brambles fill'd And they burnt up whilst there 's a Furnace in each Field Let the Flocks die and in the Stall The Ox not by the Knife but want of Fodder fall Yet in my God will I rejoyce Whose care I am as I made him my choice 'T is He 's my strength and freed from fear For me on high He shall His Truth display Or when the Desolation's near Give me Hinds Feet to scape away Comiato Song wherewith I first Begun My Great Redeemers Praise to sing And from a far more noble string Than I was wont an Hebrew Descant run For the great Harp of Jesses Son To be prepar'd when Time should be Preserve that Times blest Memory And all that by Thee ' inspir'd I since have done That if with Men no Grace I find With Heav'n I may and Peace in my own Mind OCCASIONAL RIMES The Saying of CLEANTHES 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DVC me Parens Celsique Dominator Poli Quocunque placuit nulla parendi mora est Adsum impiger fac nolle comitabor gemens Malusque patiar quod pati licuit bono I. LEAD me O Providence Divine Where e're Thou hast appointed me to go I 'll follow willingly and show By my quick pace that one design Tho hid to me acts Thy unerring Will and mine II. Briskly I 'll follow Thee for so I shall prevent my Fate which to decline Beyond my Compass is and Line Worse by resistance I shall grow And after all be driven whether I will or no. Vpon a terrible Storm of Thunder Wind and Rain 25 July 1670 done by Night in the midst of it I. GREAT God of Thunder at whose Voice The Earth and its Foundations shake And Man whom Thou hast made its Lord does quake Still the dreadful and amazing Noise Lo as Thy People Israel did of old By Fear surpriz'd yet by our fear made bold Lord lest we die we beg Thou wouldst Thy Voice withhold II. Yet speak for Lo Thy Servants hear And speak Thy self but not in Smoak and Flame The mighty Storm that by the Tishbite came And rent the Hills and did the Mountains tear The Tishbite saw unmov'd knowing Thou wert not there At length was heard an awful sound Whispers and murmers undistinct around With silence waited on profound And a soft Voice in which the Thunders shouts were drownd The Prophet listned and inclin'd his Head Fill'd with sacred and unusual Dread His Face did in his Mantle hide For Thou in triumph on the peaceful sound didst ride And He who brav'd the Thunder bow'd and worshipped III. With such another Voice Divine Lord speak to us and we will hear Thy Thunder
can get free has vowd 'T will that and all things else for Thee discard 'T will more than ever eye th' ador'd Reward And purg'd with sacred Flame JESU to Thy great Name No cost of Wit or Verse being basely spar'd Its Life and Hymns and Service dedicate To Thee own its chang'd desires Kiss the soft Fires and blame it self that 't was so late XI JESU to whom that Name as the Prize is given Of all Thou didst and sufferedst without measure The mighty Dowry which Thou broughtst Thy Wife Deaths plague Hells spoil but whose exstatic Pleasure Is for the Marriage Feast reserv'd in Heav'n Whither I haste to be than hope more rife And plentiful Lo the short Day of Life Posts swiftly on and flies JESU in my Agonies Tho now with Death and Hell I am at strife Let me experience this Names healthful ease And after a long War With Truces rare in ' it Conquer and depart in Peace Comiato Thus tho with different heat of Spirit and Verse What Petrarch sang to another JESU Thy Virgin Mother The stops in part chang'd I to Thee rehearse I chang'd the stops for under Thy Broad Seal Thou givest us no Commission Her to Petition and from her to Thee appeal Altro Comiato And now be pleas'd to accept this humble Praise Other and better Fruit JESU of all my Suit I dare not beg eve'n Pardon here is Bays And for the Prayers dropt more from my Heart than Pen Since their least part 's the Rime And words which chime say as I to them say AMEN I 'l Terzo When I sent it to Sir Kingsmil Lucy At London Song Thy Russet and Thy Freeze Will seem I fear but course Jesu they 'll cry or worse See! the dull fleghm of Solitude and Trees Thus will the Fops treat Thee those Wits by Rote Yet one Thou ' lt know e're long Who will own Thee Song and see Thy Beauties through Thy Coat An HYMN for Vespers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 JESU CHRIST blest Light of Light Th' Immortal Fathers chearful shine Ray of Glory all Divine Equally with Him fair and bright When we see the Day decline Calling the sluggish Evening on We praise the Father and the Son And in our Lauds the Spirit joyn Worthy art Thou O God we say Worthy O Son of God art Thou And Thou of Life the Lord and Giver Worthy to be Prais'd for ever Great THREE and ONE to Thee we bow And with th' whole World thus Crown each Day LENT Sestina al' Italiana Convertimento a Dio. I. WELCOME great Queen of Fasts thrice welcome Lent With solemn Penance and Devotion crownd Sweet Abstinence clean thoughts and chaste desires The Wings whereby th' unpinion'd Soul does flie Above this lower Circle and exchange Substantial Cares for Joys unmixt and pure II. I well remember when with thoughts less pure Nor more to Piety a Friend than Lent Pleas'd I could well have been ne're to exchange My course of Living no tho to be Crown'd With Bays Immortal and Exalted rise In hopes as large as are my chang'd desires III. But that time 's gone and with it those desires Which held me down and in their stead a pure Ethereal Flame which upward still does rise Kind thoughts of what 's esteem'd severe in Lent My Soul the Victim has for the Alter Crownd And ee'n burnt up nor would I ' again exchange IV. This was Thy Work Lord Thou 't was didst exchange What was beyond my power to curb stubborn desires Making them subject to the Head Thou ' hadst Crownd And now I 'm Victor with Robes clean and pure Pure to what once I wore and this new Lent To ' attend the Triumph rich in Spoils does rise V. And as that rises such hope I to rise When on the Fasts great close I shall exchange For Easters Sun the dewy Pearls of Lent Bathing like Oar with frequent Tears desires Which only such a Flame can render pure Fin'd from all Dross and worthy to be Crown'd VI. Hast Thee blest Day wherein with Glory crownd The Worlds great Saviour from the Grave did rise And credence gives His Spouse that like Him pure She shall rise too and all her Spots exchange For Glories larger than her vast desires And the' Pious Resveries of an holy Lent Were Lent and Primitive Institutes thus Crown'd With purgd Desires and Lives their Fame would rise And none the Church exchange to be more Pure Sent to my Excellent Patron Sir Nicholas Stuart Baronet 1672 3. The Song of the ANGELS At the Fall of Lucifer I. SON of the Morning First-born of the Light The once bright Phospher of the Day Divine How art Thou hurld into eternal Night And hid in Flames who didst with Glory shine The bold Usurper of th' Almighty's Crown Proud Lucifer to Hell is thrown And sing'd the Heav'ns as he from thence fell headlong down II. Above the Heav'ns he said I will ascend And there above the Stars exalt my Throne My Conquests in the North I will extend And God a parted Rule shall have or none Above the heights ne're reacht before I 'll flie And equal made with the Most High Or gain an honourable Fall or Victory III. Scarce said a pointed Thunderbolt was sent From th' Hand Divine which pierc'd him to the heart In vain he sought the Vengeance to prevent And to Almighty Strength oppos'd his Art But down he sank and down the Monster fell The stroke nor bore nor could repel And exil'd once the Heav'ns the next descent was Hell IV. Hell from beneath to meet him rais'd its Head And now no longer shall we empty be Since Thou art come the pale Abyssus said Look How we dress our Flames to welcome Thee And all with Flames they Circled him around With Flames their Princes Temples bound An Heav'n of Flames they made him strewd with Flames the Ground V. Rejoyce O Heav'ns for your Oppressor's ceast And tho e're long there shall from Earth ascend An unknown Race which shall disturb your rest Rejoyce and their Triumphant Arms attend For when by these you shall invaded be With Tears and Importunity Thus to be Conquer'd is to gain the Victory VI. Son of the Morning First-born of the Light The once bright Phospher of the Day Divine How art Thou hurld into eternal Night And hid in Flames who didst with Glory shine The bold Usurper of th' Almighty's Crown Proud Lucifer to Hell is thrown And sing'd the Heav'ns as he from thence fell headlong down L'Envoy SONG that long since wert finished And for another Place design'd Than what Thou here dost find In a long Work and long since promised Say that the Piles Foundations laid The ' unwary Builder all his Charge has lost For till begun As a Wise Man should first have done He did not as was fit sit down Throughly the Ground had not survey'd His Friends or Strength had tri'd or reckned up the cost Convertimento á Dio. LORD my
Favours shown by me A Fame which by his Birth he ne're had gain'd Till I who rais'd his Wit that Honour too obtain'd VII Ei sa che'l grande Atride He knows that Menelaus and Achilles too And Anibal and a greater than all these The mighty Scipio I did once subdue And after all their Wars enslav'd in Peace Giving them Waiting-Maids for Mistresses But for him Wretch a Love so sacred chose And of a Million so beyond compare That Heav'n alone such sublim'd Beauties knows This World has nothing half so bright or fair Not Rome it self tho its Lucrece were there Nor was this all but gave withal a Voice And of Harmonious Numbers so great choice Such skill to Sing that nothing base or low E're reacht his Thoughts except his Malice now These my Deceits were these my Flatteries For which I 'm charg'd which other would as Honours prize VIII Questo fu il fel c. This was the Gall these the Disdains and Ire Favours too great to be so soon forgot By which I kindled the most sacred Fire But see the Blaze my Labour answers not Who for a thankless Man thus long have wrought If under me he has the Skill attain'd To Ravish all who do his Numbers hear If with the Good he such Respect has gain'd And with the Great that to ' him they Deference bear How high so e're he Soar'd I fixt him there Till now perchance some servile Wretch he ' had been A Brawler at some Bar without esteem But I first rais'd him made him first be known Nor were those Arts he Riots in his own But in my School he first procur'd the Grace And then from her who next me his great Mistris was IX E per dir al extremo c. Yet last of all hear his grand Slavery And you will think he ' has reason to complain From thousand Chains of Vice I set him free By Her whose Favour he could never gain By any Act which had the smallest stain Temp'rate and Modest in design and deed Since a Liege Man of hers he still has been Who with great thoughts his abject Soul did feed And of her self i th' Cure threw so much in That to be her like he did strait begin What e're he boasts then worthy Praise or Fame From us the Spoilers of his Fortune came But ne're was Dream so wild or humorous To it self so strange as he has been to us For tho by us he 's known to God and Man The Happiness he or repents or does disdain X. Anchor questo è qual c. There 's one thing more which all the rest out-does I gave him Plumes to mount above the Skies By Mortal things which to the Man who knows The Learning like a Towring Pyramis To the first Maker by degrees arise For seeing well how great and wondrous fair Vertue in her whom he ador'd did shine From thence he might to ' himself present the Air By Heav'nly Vision of the Cause Divine As himself sings and proves this Charge of mine But I 'm forgot now and with me that Dame I gave him to support his Life and Fame Whereat I shriekt and answer'd tho in pain Well might he give who took her soon again Not I but God from whom She first did come He smartly turn'd with him would have her live at Home 1967. XI Al fin ambo c. Then pressing both to th' Bar I trembling clamorous he and over rude Both of us did in one Request conclude Great Queen we wait what Sentence you will give On both she smil'd but did us both deceive Pleas'd with your Pleadings are we she reply'd But it requires more time your Difference to decide BALLAD Prophane Love LOVE is a Net and Love 's a Snare A Thief disguis'd is Love Poyson below Honey above A Serpent under Flowers most fair Fatal as Death whose bitings are A Whirl-pool sounded ne're to be And a soul Sea from Tempests never free Love is a Lion robb'd of his Prey A Wolf with Famin pin'd Love is a Fortress undermin'd A Fire whose flames no Floods allay Flattery which does our Life betray A Labrinth pleasant to the Eye But without Clew to guide the Wand'rer by Love is a â—â—ck of Ambushments A weeping Crocodile A Syrene us'd to Sing and Spoil And all the Lovers false Contents Are Frauds which he too late resents Love 's an incurable Disease And War eternal mid vain boasts of Peace Dirupisti Domine vincula mea Tibi hostiam laudis Sacrificabo SONNET Loves Exaltation ENLARGE Thy flight Love said I and on high Raise my dull Soul those Beauties to admire Which in the Heav'nly Treasuries do lie And Mortal Brests with holy Flame inspire Shew me the Spring of that Celestial Fire Design'd our Earthy Dross to purifie But after which in vain below we ' enquire Who sit down i th' warm Sun of a fair Eye So up he rais'd me but no Tongue can tell What I in Rapturous Vision did behold My Love I found was Pure and made me bold This only I remember very well So high we soar'd till on an Arch above I saw inscrib'd SACRED TO HEAVENLY LOVE ODE The Thoughts I. I'vo pensando c. FULL of strange Thoughts and pensive as I go A tenderness which to my self I owe So strongly does my Mind assail And so insensibly prevail That all in Tears I flow But for my own misfortune now And not anothers Cruelty as I was wont to do For seeing every Day my end draw nigh A thousand times of God I 've begg'd those Wings With which from this lewd World and Mortal things Th' unpinion'd Soul to Heav'n does flie And beg still but he does the Grace deny And tho I Sigh and Grieve and Pray That Happiness does countermand But reason 't is that he who will not upright stand When 't is in his own Power or wilfully must stray Low as the Earth should lie and never find his way I see 't is true th' Eternal Arms extended wide But my own Fear and others Fate Who have deferr'd till 't was too late Make me tremble at my present state Another Tyran too beside Whom oft to throw in vain I oft have try'd Furiously spurs me on Ah! Whither will he ride II. L'un pensier parla c. But Lo what thoughts my mind assault And how to it thus One roundly says Why foolish Thing why these delays What lookt-for Succour causes such an Alt Seest thou not how the winged Minutes pass And add more Years to thy Disgrace And yet thy help as far to seek as e're it was Take rather take thy last Farewel And do it quickly every Root destroy Of fruitless Pleasure which couldst thou enjoy In its Perfection for it thou must sell Thy Soul and Liberty and in an hurry dwell But since thou ne're canst that expect And in the toilsome quest art tir'd Of what so much admired Yet which the glozing
World when it does thee neglect May to an He as ill deserving give Why as fixt here dost thou live And midst rude Wars and giddy Vanity Hope for Peace and Constancy Now while thou mayst dare to be Wise In thine own hand keep fast the Rein And since thou must begin again Stop and turn back the Road behind thee lies T is hazardous thou knowst too long to stay And till to Morrow leave what 's better done to Day III. Gia sai tu ben c. Long since Thou hast been taught nor art thou now To learn what Happiness and Content From the fairest Eyes are sent To ' n Heart that does the Charms of Beauty know But what think'st Thou both had been What Thy Content and Happiness The greater Glory and the less If those fair Eyes had ne're been seen And in their stead another Flame had entred in Thou well remembrest and 't is well thou dost How their Image seiz'd thee first And thy Heart like Lightning pierc'd Where it was so much Lord of all the Coast So fatally did overcome That none for other Loves it left scarce for it self had room With that thou first wert set on fire And if its wild fallacious heat Has held thee many Years with vain desire And expectation of what ne're was yet Nor er'e may come that joyful Day Which should thy Mise'ries end and largely for thy waiting pay For none so silily themselves undo As Lovers and so thanklesly if Poets too Why dost thou not to a better hope thy Soul advance And Heav'ns Immortal Glories view For if one Smile one pleasing Glance A Song dear purchas'd one kind word or two The price of Love can here enhance What will those Heavenly Beauties do And how great must the Pleasure be above Where they do ever Sing and where they ever Love IV. Da l' altra parte On tother side a different thought With a sharp but pleasing pain Of Hope and Fear together wrought Makes me love it but complain For while with Hope it feeds my Heart And profers Fame to crown desert The Fear I can despise and dare the cruel smart Insensible it almost renders me Of all but its dear self insensible The effects of Study I ne're feel How hot or cold how pale so e're I be Nor will one Death to kill 't suffice One Death to end its Tyrannies Since throughly slain it does with greater vigor only rise When but a Child as a Child with me it plaid Just like my self and as I grew encreast Nor will 't I fear permit me any rest Till in one Tomb we be together laid Dead with my Body there 't will lie Nor any further with me go And then what signifies this Fame if I Its best Report can never know Since there must once a parting be And away the Shade will flee For the true substance I 'll leave it e're that leave me V. Ma quel ' altro voler But Oh! that Passion like my Soul Which in each part is all and all i th' whole And as a great and spreading Root To ' it self the moisture draws and starves the Ground about How does it Vex and Torture me When I my Pride and Folly see My Ignorance and Vanity Of others writing still so mindless of my self to be Those Eyes I mean whose heavy Chain My captive Will does so restrain That Art and Force to break it I employ in vain What then tho my spread Sails are fill'd And that prepar'd I for the Voyage am If yet my Barque midst Rocks is held By two such Cables Love and Fame But Thou my God who from those other Bands With which the sottish World 's held fast Long since my freedom Ransom'd hast Why hear not these Thy great Commands And loose the Pris'ner who with shame confounded stands Abasht I stand and like a Man at Night Assaulted in his Dreams with Deaths grim sight Fain would resist but want both words to speak and Arms to fight VI. Quel ch' i fo veggio c. I well enough know what I ought to do Nor does the Ignorance of what is true At all deceive me but this Love With which so mise'rably I am opprest Tho all his and my ' own Follies I reprove Too much and much too long of me possest Permits me not one step to move And the true Honours shiny Path intend above Yet now and then there does begin Something I know not what to strive within A cruel and severe Disdain Thus for ever to remain And where of all it may be read again This secret thought writes in my Forehead plain What can more unmorthy be The Man who does to th' fairest Prize aspire Than towards Mortal things to be on fire With the same Flame that only fits the Deity Nor does it thus alone but crys aloud To my Reason drawn aside And behind my Senses hid Reason obeys and strait condemns what it allowd But as I 'm thinking back to go Custome does or make me stay Or leads me to some other way I gaze and that does show The brightest Eyes e're shon below But born alass for my incurable Disease For too much me too much their cruel selves they please VII Ne so che spatio mi c. How long or short the space may be Which when into this World I first came down By Heav'ns Arrest was granted me To undergo Wars misery And all those pains which from my self have grown I know as little as I do the Time When this wretched Life shall end For both are Mysteries too sublime And Mortal knowledg far transcend But this I know and daily find That all without and all within My Body 's chang'd and so 's my Mind Gray Hairs appear nor is th' End far behind When to approach these Harbingers begin Like a Man therefore who much Ground and Day has lost But wiser made at length by his cost I 'm thinking oft to take the Right Hand way Where I see my Journey lay And which when first I left I first began to stray But Grief and Shame to have truanted so long Hold my one half Pleasure does t'other seize Pleasure through Custome grown so strong That it with Death dare stand on terms for War or Peace Comiato SONG thou seest me as I am And me more than thou Petrarch sawst of old With an Heart than Ice more cold Ne're to be thaw'd I fear by any Flame But that which in ' its embrace the Universe shall hold Yet Lo I am resolv'd again Once more the great Experiment to try Tho ne're liv'd Man in so much pain With Death or in his Heart or Eye But this my Trouble does renew That what I would I cannot do And what I hate and would not that I vigorously pursue 1668. SONNET Convertimento á Dio. Io son sistanco sotto ' l c. TIR'D and almost or'ecome with th' heavy weight Of my old Sins by Custome grown so strong